By Charlie McCann
There’s a fabulous card this afternoon at Newbury, with promising second season novices’ Dawalan and Cole Harden successful on the corresponding card last term. The latter is 16/1 with BetVictor to give trainer Warren Greatrex a first Cheltenham Festival success in the World Hurdle at the festival in the spring.
The 6-y-o won the last year’s renewal of the 2m 3f Novices’ Hurdle before an excellent second to Beat That in the G1 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree, and whilst that may be perhaps a little ambitious, Sugar Baron (2.15) looks a novice with a bright future. The well-bred son of Presenting led home a Nicky Henderson 1-2 in a traditionally warm bumper at Ascot in November and boasts the scope to improve stepped up in trip and sent over timber. Stable jockey Barry Geraghty opts to ride ahead of stable-mate Admiral Miller however the latter remains of similar interest after chasing home the smart pair of Yanworth and Urubu D’Irlande on debut last May at Wincanton.
The stable can double up with Carnival Flag (3.25) in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle over an extended two and a half miles. The selection has been consistent, if not frustrating, finishing second in a trio of bumpers last term under Andrew Tinkler. She was well-backed on all three starts so clearly must be thriving at home and it is hoped that Geraghty replacing Tinkler unlocks the key to her, seeing her shed the maiden tag at the fourth time of asking.
Paul Nicholls’ Far West is respected for the feature novices’ handicap chase after scoring over course and distance last time out however Richard Lee’s Top Gamble (1.45) can land the hat-trick Jamie Moore. The selection completed was part of a memorable 637/1 treble for the stable last month at Warwick, jumping his rivals into submission to win a similar contest by a comfortable seven lengths. The selection has caught the eye of the handicapper and has been raised 8lb for those efforts however he looks to be improving with every run and can make it 3/3 over fences en-route to a step up in class thereafter.
The 3m Handicap Chase looks a fascinating renewal with Colin Tizzard’s Ohio Gold (2.50) taken to give weight and a beating to his ten rivals under Brendan Powell. The selection was well supported in the market for his seasonal debut at Stratford, sent off a well-backed favourite before eventually finishing back in fourth. The 9-y-o has only ever tackled the trip once when bumping into one at Chepstow but has fallen to a mark of 130 and should remain competitive down in grade.
There’s all-weather action from Kempton and Lingfield, with Don Cantillon’s prolific all-weather winner La Estrella (12.50) highly fancied to land the opener at the latter. The evergreen 12-y-o won the corresponding claimer on last year’s card and looks set to record an incredible 26th AW success.
Trainer Charlie Appleby continues to churn out winners in the New Year with the stable completing a double on the inaugural card at Chelmsford Racecourse on Sunday. Jockey Martin Lane doesn’t boast the best strike-rate when riding for Godolphin but a chance is taken on him guiding Legerity (2.25) to victory in the fillies’ maiden over a mile. The well-bred daughter of Dubawi was a 500,000 Gns purchase at the sales and was well held on her debut last summer at Doncaster but boasts the pedigree to bounce back and can get the better of the John Gosden trained, and likely favourite, Nancy Astor.
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